The State Fair is one of my favorite events of the year. It brings Delawareans together in a way few other experiences can. Most importantly, we celebrate the incredible contributions the agriculture community makes to our economy and our quality of life. The hard work of our 25-hundred farmers and their families will generate $8 billion in economic activity this year.

I spent part of my time here with urban farmers, who demonstrate you can get involved in Delaware agriculture no matter where in the state you live. We’re happy to see interest among so many of our young people in planting, weeding and harvesting – learning botany, biology, and soil sciences along the way.

In our global economy, it’s critical that all Delawareans have opportunities to build connections with the international community. Our agriculture industry knows this as well as any since South Korean company Allen Harim announced it intends to purchase the former Pinnacle Foods pickle plant in Millsboro. Instead of losing hundreds of jobs, Harim’s $100 million investment will employ an estimated 700 people in poultry operations.

At this year’s fair, we welcomed guests from our Japanese sister state of Miyagi. During a visit there last year we signed an agreement to encourage more economic collaboration, including between our agribusinesses. While there, I met Keiichiro Abe , who traveled to Harrington this week and gave Delawareans the chance to sample his company’s famous fish cakes.

By ensuring Delaware’s farmers are in a position to compete and lead on the world stage, we’ll make their industry even stronger, and we’ll keep Delaware moving forward.

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